It's A Marathon

Excessive concern and worry for this life, or love for the world in which we live, presents an unnecessary burden and distraction to the Christian that pulls him down when he should rise up, and pulls him back when he should press forward. Let go of this world and all its attractions. Live like the new man you are.

Paul writes in Ephesians 4:22; “for you ought to put off the old man (according to your way of living before) who is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.”

When Jesus called for him, blind Bartimaeus threw off his coat and he ran to Jesus on the road to Jericho as reported in Mark 10. He would not let even his clothing slow him down when going to Jesus.

How do we get rid of those things that would slow us down?

Repent. Acknowledge as sin the sin that is keeping you from the best place in God. Then act on your repentance. You have put off the old man. Now put on the new man and live a new life in Christ.

After you have thrown off all hindrances run with perseverance. Where? Where are we to run? There is a specific course to run. Keep moving along the course that is marked out.

Christians have a race to run, a race of service to Christ and His Body, the Church. It is an unpopular course, but we also have a race of suffering for righteousness, a course of active and passive obedience to God.

This race is set before us. It is marked out for us, both by the Word of God and the examples of the faithful servants of God, that cloud of witnesses with which they are compassed about. Ours is a clearly defined course as set out by God-marked boundaries and directions.

Run your race well. Stay on course. Don’t let anyone or anything distract you from the goal line.

Beijing

At 8:00 PM on 8-8-08 – the summer Olympics begin. Hopefully.

Every athlete planning to compete in the Olympic events will throw aside every thing that might impede them in their course: Excess weight; Extra body fat; Poor sleep patterns; Negative emotional influences; All surplus baggage must go. Likewise, followers of Jesus on their race to heaven must throw aside every thing that might hinder them in their Christian race.

Whatever weighs down or holds our hearts or affections to this earth is to be carefully avoided. No person, with the love of the world in his or her heart, can reach the kingdom of heaven. All unreasonable affection and desire for this present life and world must be thrown off.

Care for the present life, or love for it, is a dead weight on the soul that pulls it down when it should rise upwards, and pulls it back when it should press forward. Cut it loose. Throw it off. Don’t allow anything to slow you down.